Fence-post



I (No Model.)

J. M. MA'DDING & B. I. WATSON.

FENCE POST.

No. 390,495. i Patented Oct. 2, 1888. J 8 y 8% 1 V I WITNESSES 8 1.7V V'EJVTOfi s: 'fi w W W g A .dttorney N. PETERS. Phnln-Lllhogmphcn Washinginn. D. C.

NITED STATES Arenr reins.

JASPER M. DIADDING- AND BENJAMIN F. \VATSON, OF BRIDGEPORT, ILLTNOIS.

FENCE-POST.

EPEC'IPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,495, dated October 2, 18188.

Application filed June 29, 1888. Serial No. 273,539. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JASPER M. MADDING and BENJAMIN F. WATSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Lawrence and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovementsupon metalliefenee-posts; and it has for its objects to provide an ex tremely simple post, that may be easily rolled and formed into shape, and which,when erected, will be very firm and durable and permit of the attachment to it of either the wires of a wire fence or the rails of a board fence, as may be desired; that may be provided with an intcgral anchoring device to hold it firmly and prevent its withdrawal from the earth, and

which will be comparatively light,and yet possess sufficient strength to permit it to be driven into the earth without the necessity of making an excavation for its reception, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of aportion of a board fence employing my improved post; Fig. 2, a similar view of a portion of a wire fence; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a post; Fig. 1-, a detail view of the blank from which the post is rolled or stamped; Fig. 5, a crosssection of the post; Fig. 6, a detail view of one wing of the anchor detached.

The post is formed of asingle strip or plate of sheet metal, formed into shape while hot by suitable tools and appliances.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the post, which is rolled or pressed into practically a 2 form in cross-section, having the longitudinal flanges a, a and the plain flatsurface I), these flanges or surface being perforated at suitable intervals for the passage of the attaching wires of the fence, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The post is sharpened at its lower end, as at c, to facilitate its passage into the earth, and is preferably formed slightly tapering. The lower ends of the flanges a a are somewhat extended, forming tongues a a, as shown in Fig. 4. These tongues are bent upward and outward at c, and then inward again at d, terminating against the outer face of the flanges, and form wedge-shaped anchors B B upon opposite 'sides of the post. These anchors are so shaped that they will not prevent thepostfrom being driven intothegronnd, but will prevent its withdrawal when onceinserted into the earth. The post as thus constrncted may be made very light and strong, and, particularly if treated with a coat of coaltar or other preservative, will be very durable. The post is simple and inexpensive in construction; but it answers all purposes for which such devices are intended.

Ve may find it advisable to cast this post, and in that case we may make the anchors B B separate, as shown in Fig. 6, and belt or rivet them on; or we may cast them integral, as the exigencies of the case may require.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fence-post consisting of a single piece of sheet metal pressed or rolled into Z form in crossseetion, one of the flanges of the said post being perforated for the passage of the tie-wires of the fence, substantially as described.

2. A fence-post consisting of a single piece of sheet metal pressed into 2 shape in crosssection, one of the vertical flanges or faces of the post being perforated and the lower end of the post sharpened, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A fence-post formed out of a single piece of sheet metal pressed into Z-shaped form in cross-section, the longitudinal flanges a a of the said post being provided with tongues a to, these tongues being bent upward and outward and then inward toward the faces of the said flanges, forming the anchors B :3 on opposite sides of the post, substantially as herein set forth. I

4. Ametallie fence-post, A, formed .2 shape in cross-section, one of the longitudinal faces or flanges of this post being perforated, and the wedge-shaped anchors B upon opposite sides of the said post, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof we affix our-signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JASPER lll'. lllAlllllNll.

Vitnesscs: liENJdllllN ll. ll'il'lSllN.

J. D. MADDING, H. W. BUNN. 

